Allison Mathews is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Social Medicine within the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases. Her research focuses on the use of crowdsourcing to learn how to better engage communities about the social and ethical implications of HIV cure clinical trials, HIV testing, and other health services.

Allison Mathews, PhD, was honored for her work with the community during the 2018 Red Ribbon Awards.

Mathews is a postdoctoral research fellow in UNC’s Institute for Global Health & Infectious Diseases, where she leads the 2BeatHIV project. She received the Caressa White Education & Program Development Award, which honors someone who educates the community and manages programs for and about HIV. Mathews’s 2BeatHIV project uses crowdsourcing contests to develop new ways to engage the community with HIV cure research. Learn more about how she connects with the community through 2BeatHIV.

“It means so much to be honored with an award named for Caressa White Harding, who is a fierce representation of the type of leadership and tenacity needed to end the HIV epidemic,” said Mathews. “I only hope that I can honor her name and the work of countless others who came before me to educate the public about HIV cure research and advocate on behalf of the marginalized and underserved. The HIV community has embraced me with open arms. They’re family.”

Dr. Allison Mathews exemplifies the term “Superwoman” and her go-getter spirit shines brightly. As a public health professional for nearly 10 years, Mathews has excelled in areas of HIV cure research and community engagement

So when we were invited to view the exhibit and meet influencers in fashion I was over the moon excited. Our very own Dr. Allison Mathews shared her personal experience in the form of photography. Again, it was an honor to capture the art, culture, and style of this exhibit.

The city of Durham as well as the state of North Carolina has officially proclaimed December 14th as HIV Cure Research Day and this is a major milestone for the 2BeatHIV project. 2BeatHIV is a research project based at UNC’s Institute for Global Health and Infectious Disease and Department of Social Medicine. They are the actual fieldwork involved in examining social and moral aspects of curing HIV. This is their second annual celebration for HIV Cure Research Day.

We in the Black community are not surprised that “Hidden Figures” did so well in the box office because the movement to support “Black first” is resurfacing. Black buying power has always been a major source of strength — from demanding civil rights to determining how businesses cater to our communities. Even though individuals within the Black community do not have much individual wealth, the collectivebuying power within the Black community reached nearly $1.2 trillion in 2016 according to the University of Georgia’s Selig Center for Economic Growth. Ironically, Black people continue to be underserved in most sectors of society, including health care. What if we changed the way we provided health services to the most vulnerable populations, like people with low-income in Black communities, by treating them as powerful consumers?

Talib Kweli is arguably the most prolific lyricist to grace the hip hop stage, not only because he is a talented writer, but because his background is as unique and complex as his lyrics. On February 15, 2017, he sat and discussed his life with 9th Wonder, who is a producer and legend in his own right.

Like Michelle Obama said, “When they go low, we go high.” Of course, going “high” is one of the most difficult things to do, especially when dealing with insecurity, anger and frustration. But there are several ways to redirect those feelings.

August 10, 2011 marks the day I decided to choose me. I had recently gotten married to a man I was in a relationship with for seven years. On the surface, everything seemed great between us. We often publicly shared photos together on social media, wrote love poems about each other, and he even wrote songs about me. Our wedding was absolutely beautiful, with over 200 guests, a 16-person wedding party, a beautiful wedding gown, and a grandiose reception hall. But secretly, we were both in a pit of dysfunction, co-dependency, and depression.

There are several ways that people have crossed the line with me as I have grown my business and I have had to learn some tough lessons as a result. As a speaker, researcher, and community organizer, I have encountered too many people who ask me to speak at their event or help organize their event for free.

What is your threshold for holding true to your values or selling out to make your business successful? It’s a question that every entrepreneur will have to ask themselves as they work to build their brand and increase revenue.